Many people are surprised to learn that there is more than one way to make soap. While several methods exist, I create all of my soaps using the traditional cold process method. It takes more time and patience than many commercial methods, but I believe it's worth every step.
Every bar of Cyndy Soap is handcrafted in small batches using carefully selected oils, butters, botanicals, clays, and other skin-loving ingredients. Each recipe is thoughtfully developed to create a soap that is gentle, nourishing, and enjoyable to use.
Safety Comes First
Before I begin making soap, safety is my top priority.
Cold process soap is made using sodium hydroxide (lye), which must be handled with great care. I always wear protective equipment, including safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. I also work in a well-ventilated area.
Once the soap-making process is complete and the soap has fully cured, no lye remains in the finished bar. Instead, it has been transformed into gentle soap through a natural process called saponification.
Preparing the Ingredients
Every batch begins with a recipe.
I carefully measure each ingredient before I start. The oils, butters, clays, botanicals, essential oils, and any other additives are prepared and weighed in advance.
Next, I slowly add the sodium hydroxide to distilled water—never the other way around—and gently stir until it has completely dissolved. The lye solution is then set aside to cool while I prepare the oils.
Combining the Oils
The hard oils and butters are gently melted before being combined with the liquid oils.
Once both the oils and the lye solution have cooled to the proper temperature, I slowly pour the lye solution into the oils and begin blending.
As the mixture thickens, it reaches a stage called trace, where it has formed a stable emulsion. At this point, I add ingredients such as clays, colloidal oatmeal, botanicals, natural colourants, and essential oils, depending on the recipe.
Pouring Into the Mould
Once everything has been thoroughly mixed, the soap is poured into a mould.
This is where the real transformation begins.
Over the next several hours, the soap naturally generates heat and begins the process of saponification. Depending on the recipe, the soap may remain in the mould anywhere from overnight to several days before it is ready to be removed.
Cutting and Curing
After the soap has hardened, I carefully remove it from the mould and cut it into individual bars.
The bars are then placed on curing racks where they remain for four to six weeks.
During this time, excess water slowly evaporates, allowing the soap to become harder, longer lasting, and milder on the skin.
Although it's tempting to use the soap right away, patience truly makes a better bar.
Handmade With Care
One of the things I love most about cold process soap is that no two batches are exactly alike.
Because every bar is handcrafted, slight variations in colour, swirl patterns, shape, or texture are completely normal. These natural differences are part of what makes handmade soap so unique.
Every batch receives my personal attention from beginning to end, and I hope that care shines through every time you use one of my soaps.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about how I make my soaps.
I truly appreciate your support of my small Canadian business. Every purchase allows me to continue doing something I genuinely love—creating handcrafted products that I hope bring a little enjoyment to your everyday routine.
I hope you enjoy using my soaps as much as I enjoy making them.
Warmly,
Cyndy
Cyndy Soap